POLICY STATEMENT EXTREME WEATHER POLICY. Approval Date : 17 August 2009

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1 POLICY STATEMENT EXTREME WEATHER POLICY Approval Date : 17 August 2009 Amendment Date 1 July 2011

2 CONTENTS POLICY NAME... 3 DEFINITION... 3 AUTHORITY... 3 RESPONSIBILITY... 3 CONFIDENTIALITY... 3 ATTACHMENTS... 3 POLICY STATEMENT... 3 Philosophy... 3 Competitions... 6 ATTACHMENT 1 - Umpire of the Day - Cancellation Report

3 POLICY NAME Extreme Weather Policy DEFINITION This is an overarching policy for the Association. All events (metropolitan and country) will have specific heat rules. AUTHORITY Laws of the Sport of Bowls Bowls WA Constitution Bowls WA By Laws RESPONSIBILITY Bowls Management Committee CONFIDENTIALITY Not confidential ATTACHMENTS Umpire of the Day Report The following brochures are available to clubs and players upon request or through the Sports Medicine Australia website Smartplay Brochure Sports Medicine Australia Policy Preventing Heat Illness in Sport Sports Medicine Australia Heat Stress in Sport Fact and Fiction POLICY STATEMENT Philosophy The Extreme Weather policy is to provide an overarching statement on the appropriate standards required by clubs when extreme weather conditions including excessive heat is, or may be a factor during Bowls WA events. Extreme weather includes lightning, hail and flooding. Solicitor s advice is that there is no specific legislative requirement for sporting clubs to cancel play in specific heat conditions. Bowls WA has a duty of care towards its players to provide a safe environment for play. The aim of the policy is to clearly explain the appropriate courses of action to be considered when extreme weather conditions or excessive heat is or may be a factor during a Bowls WA event. Heat: Individual responses to heat stress vary. Some factors which may affect an individual s risk of heat illness include: 1. exercise intensity; 3

4 2. high ambient temperature or wet bulb globe temperature (WGBT) 1 ; 3. humidity; 4. dehydration; 5. the individuals level of fitness, age, general health, and propensity to heat illness. Participating in Bowls WA events in hot conditions will affect different individuals to different extents. Bowls WA provide this policy to ensure unnecessary risk to players and make players aware of their responsibility to avoid risk to themselves. No player is required by Bowls WA to participate in any game. Ultra Violet Radiation: Particular attention should be paid to the Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR) strength as this has strong links to skin cancer. Most people are aware of the effects of UVR through the painful condition of sunburn, but the UVR spectrum has many other effects, both beneficial and damaging, on human health. Sunscreen prevents the direct DNA damage which causes sunburn. Most of these products contain a SPF rating to show how well they block UV rays. Bowls WA and clubs have a responsibility to provide or make available a range of strategies to provide a safe environment including: 1. Access to SPF 30+ or higher broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen for participants. 2. Encourage Clubs to ensure that players, umpires and coaches have hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and long sleeved shirts whilst on the greens. 3. Endorse a strict no hat, no sunscreen, no play policy for all those involved in the Junior Programs. 4. Utilise shade to protect participants and spectators, whenever possible. 5. Provide sun protection information to participants. 6. Encourage all parties to apply SPF 30+ sunscreen prior to commencement of activities and reapply every two hours. Lightning: The AS Lightning Protection Standard was published on 10 January Section 1.2 states that Compliance with the recommendations contained in this Standard will not necessarily prevent damage or personal injury due to lightning, but will reduce the probability of such damage or injury occurring Under Precautions and Personal Safety notes In the absence of specific information from weather radar, a lightning location system, or a specialized warning device then the 30/30 safety guideline should be used. Procedures: When lightning is considered to be a possible or actual threat the following procedures are applicable: Access to Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) (i) Lead Up Prior to Game Day The proactive plan should commence in the days before the activity, where 1 The Bureau of Metrology can be contacted for information on daily temperatures and further information about the ambient temperature and WBGT can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website: 4

5 weather forecasts provide important warning of possible thunderstorm activity. (ii) Game Day/Training Increased awareness of lightning risk should continue on the game day until the activity has finished. If the threat continues into the game day the Controlling Body should discuss the situation. The Controlling Body should check the BOM website. The competing Team Managers should be contacted in order to explain the situation to them. Teams should proceed to the venue unless otherwise directed. If lightning is predicted within no less than 10km of the game venue at the scheduled starting time the game commencement time may be delayed by up to 90 minutes. This decision to delay or suspend play as well as resume play will be based on information obtained from the BOM and will be at the sole discretion of the Umpire of the Day. (See General Conditions of Play 8.2.2) No access to Bureau of Meteorology (30 / 30 Rule) The most basic level of warning involves observation of the weather in the local area. It is important to remember that lightning may be obscured by clouds so it must be assumed that when thunder is heard, lightning is in the vicinity. In such cases, careful judgment must be used to determine whether a threat exists. The first part of the 30/30 rule is a guide to the postponement or suspension of activities. Most experts agree that the accepted safe distance from lightning is more than 10km. This means that as the time interval between observing the flash and hearing the thunder approaches 30 seconds, all those in exposed areas should be seeking or already inside safe shelters. A storm cell with lightning activity within 10km constitutes a threat. The second part of the 30/30 rule provides the criteria for the resumption of activity which is applicable to decisions made with BOM access as well. Here, it is recommended that people wait a minimum of 30 minutes after the last sighting of lightning or sound of thunder. This figure is based on the observation that the typical storm moves at about 40km/h. Thus, waiting 30 minutes allows the thunderstorm to be about 20km away, minimising the likelihood of a nearby lightning strike. Note: 60 minutes is the maximum delay time. (i) Match Day/Training The 30/30 rule is recommended for lightning safety and serves as a guide for the suspension and subsequent resumption of activities. The overall principle is to seek shelter when the lightning activity is too close. The observation of approaching storm clouds, the first flash of lightning or clap of thunder, no matter how far away should heighten lightning awareness. The level of risk depends on one s location (direction and distance) relative to the storm cell and the direction in which the storm system is travelling. A simple method of determining the distance to the storm cell is to measure the time elapsed from when the lightning flash is observed and when the associated clap of thunder is heard. 5

6 Light travels faster than sound. Assuming that the light from the flash reaches the observer instantaneously, and knowing that sound takes approximately three (3) seconds to travel one (1) kilometre, the distance can be determined by using the following rule: Distance (in Km) = Time from observing the flash to hearing thunder (in seconds) 3 It is important to emphasize that blue skies and lack of rainfall are not adequate reasons to breach the 30 minute minimum return-to-activity rule. COMPETITIONS All competitions run under the auspices of Bowls WA will include a heat rule within the Conditions of Play specific to that competition. Officials and players must ensure they are aware of the Extreme Weather Policy and the Conditions of Play for each and every event. Clubs are responsible for having in place their own rules for playing the sport of bowls in extreme weather conditions. Factors for clubs and BWA to consider include: 1. The controlling body (Club, League, Zone, Region or BWA), Team Managers and Umpire of the Day are aware of the Extreme Weather Policy and the Conditions of Play and their responsibilities under it; 2. To place no pressure: on any player to refrain from play to force a player to continue to play once play has commenced on a player not to play 3. To ensure players have ample opportunity to rehydrate during play; 4. To ensure that players are aware of their own individual responsibilities to prepare for play in hot conditions; 5. To ensure that all participants have access to a copy of the Extreme Weather Policy and/or Conditions of Play 6. To provide a shady and/or safe area for players to rest when not participating in play. Club, League and Zone Games: The Club, League, Zone or Region as the Controlling Body may decide to cancel or postpone the game prior to its commencement if they believe that the weather is not likely to be suitable for play to commence. Whilst this action normally only takes place in the event of rain, it may also be used in the case of forecast excessive heat. Each player must assess their own susceptibility to heat illness prior to commencing play. BWA Events: BWA as the Controlling Body may decide to cancel or postpone the game prior to its commencement if it believes that the weather is not likely to be suitable for play to commence. Whilst this action normally only takes place in the event of rain, it may also be used in the case of forecast excessive heat. Each player must assess their own susceptibility to heat illness prior to commencing play. BWA will include within the Conditions of Play Procedures dealing with Extreme Weather. 6

7 The Match Committee will recommend to the Bowls Management Committee what the Heat Rule in the Conditions of Play will be for each event (other than Pennant competitions which are specified in their specific Conditions of Play.) The decision regarding the event being cancelled or postponed will also be included in the Conditions of Play. This decision will be made by the Chair of the Match Committee in consultation with his/her committee. How the Notice of the Decision will be advised is also to be included in the Conditions of Play. (e.g. on web or radio). 7

8 Attachment 1 Reason play abandoned: UMPIRE OF THE DAY REPORT CANCELLATION OF PLAY PLEASE TICK THE APPROPRIATE BOX YES NO Excess Heat Lightning Flooding Other (write reason below) Who made the decision (in line with the Field of Play Rules)? If games are called off during play due to Extreme Weather or extreme circumstances, and the required number of ends have NOT been completed then the points will be shared equally. (Please refer to the Field of Play Rules): Comments on Conditions/Outcome: : Umpire of the Day: Name:..Signature:. Date: Cancellation of Play Form must be completed and sent to Bowls WA Headquarters within 48 hours after the scheduled fixture. 8